Healthy Living

Although the issue usually doesn’t make headlines, falls in hospitals and once you go home can cause serious healthcare problems.

In fact, one out of three adults age 65 and older fall each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Among this age group, falls are the leading cause of injury death and can lead to a loss of independence for many.

Hospitals and organizations like Backus Home Health Care spend a lot of time working to eliminate falls.

Backus has been highly successful in reducing the number of falls in the hospital. And understanding what causes falls can help prevent them.

Falls can occur for a variety of reasons. You trip over something, lose your balance, miss a step, or slide on the ice. New medications can cause dizziness or changes in blood pressure that make you feel light-headed.

The risk of falling increases the older you are, as poor eyesight and unsteady walking can make each step more of a challenge. So, being aware of your fall risk and doing some simple things to prevent a fall are important. Here are a few simple things that we do at the hospital that you can also do at home:

• Wear good shoes with traction

• Keep the floor clear of clutter

• Make sure the area is well lit so you can see where you are going

• Go slowly when starting a new medication until you know how you are going to react

• Get up slowly to give your body a chance to adjust to the change

• Keep items close by so you don't have to reach to get them

• Provide time to get to the bathroom without having to hurry.

These are all simple things, but remembering them will help to keep you safe, no matter where you are.

There is one more I didn't mention -- walk with a friend. Leaning a bit on the people in our lives not only helps navigate the tough spots, but it makes the journey more enjoyable as well.

Bonnie Thompson, an advanced practice nurse, is Administrative Director of Organizational Excellence at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Thompson or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org